jenncore

I didn't have a stress test because I didn't have any concerns that would have required one. Not everyone has one before surgery. If your primary care physician is okay with it I wouldn't worry. Good luck with your gall bladder surgery. Jenn

I'm not sure about the fever but I have had very similar pains in the past and discovered it was really bad gas. Someone else in my support group also had the same thing and it was gas pains. Try using a heating pad for a while and see if that helps. If it doesn't improve and you're still having fevers, I would definitely go back to the Doctor ASAP. I hope you feel better soon! Jenn

I had my first fill 5 1/2 weeks after surgery. I was a little nervous but it didn't hurt at all. My surgeon actually does my fills and he didn't numb me first. It's a tiny little stick and is over before you know it. It's completely normal to be nervous the first time. You'll do great! Jenn

My throat was pretty uncomfortable for the first few days and I also had a huge sore in my mouth. Sugar free popsicles really helped with the discomfort. As far as gas pains, I really only had gas pains the night after my surgery. I slept with a heating pad everynight for a week anyway so that might have helped dissolve some of the gas. Hang in there, you'll be feeling better before you know it! Jenn

I agree with the other posts about the amount of weight you have lost and the need for more calories. I was very similar to you. I lost about 15 pds. in the first three weeks and then nothing, not one pound. I had my first fill about 5 1/2 weeks after my surgery and then started to lose a little more. I had my surgery on 12/26/08 and as of today I've lost about 27pds. I'm happy with that! Some people have lost more than I have in the same amount of time and some have lost less. The important thing is to not become too focused on what the scale says right now. Technically, the weeks before your fill aren't considered weightloss weeks so you're ahead of the game. It's great that you're exercising but you need to have enough calories to burn. I eat between 900 - 1100 calories a day and that's exactly what the nutritionist has recommended for me. Hang in there, the weightloss will continue but as you know, it's a slow and steady process. Jenn

hi, i got my first fill (1cc in a 4cc band) about 4 weeks ago. the first few weeks were fine but the third week I felt exactly like you were explaining. I could drink okay but it seemed like everything I ate was getting stuck. I actually vomitted yogurt. I was also worried that I was over-filled. I really didn't want to go to the doctor for an unfill if I didn't have to so I really started off slowly. I took tiny (baby bites) of food and chewed until I couldn't chew anymore. Each day I slowly improved. I'm feeling much better although I do get the occasional stuck feeling. I hope I was helpful! Jenn

First of all, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time and I hope you feel better soon. I felt pretty good post-op but got sick of the same old liquids fairly quickly. The last thing you want to have happen now is to get dehydrated. Try having sugar-free popsycles, they don't offer alot of nutritional value but will at least help keep you hydrated. I know you're sick of the sweet drinks and such but maybe get some ensure, slimfast, or even carnation instant Breakfast, anything that will give you some Protein. For now, you might even want to try drinking some gatorade. It sounds like you've lost alot of weight quickly so it might not be a bad idea to have a milkshake and add some Protein Powder to it. I would suggest that if you're still feeling this way over the weekend, that you make an appoinment to see the doctor just to make sure everything's okay. I hope I was helpful! Hang in there and keep us posted on how you're feeling. Jenn

I think for the most part, we have all been successful at losing weight at some point in our lives. The problem is that it always comes back on and then some. For me, that really was one of the deciding factors in getting the band. As for exercise, you have to find exercise that is realistic for you. If you don't want to spend a lot of time at the gym there are many other ways to get exercise in. I currently don't go to the gym so I either get out and walk or do an exercise tape at home. This is a really big decision and nobody can make it for you but really consider all of the factors before you make your final decision. This was the best decision I have ever made and even though it isn't always easy, I don't regret it for one second. I wish the very best in whatever decision you make! Jenn

Hi, the time line is differant for all of us. It does depend alot on if your self pay or insurance. I was insurance. I attended the seminar on Aug. 27, 2007 and had surgery on Dec. 26th (almost 4 months). In between the seminar I had a psych. eval, nutritionist eval., met with the cardiologist and the surgeon twice. I also had to get all of my medical records together. If your going through insurance, you might want to call to find out what their requirements are. It seems like most of the insurance companies require 6 months medically supervised weightloss. I had a bmi of 43 when I started, had no co-morbs and didn't have a 5 year weight history but I had 12 months supervised weightloss with my doctor. Good luck and start looking into the requirements now so you'll be prepared. Having lapband surgery was the best decision of my life! Jenn

Hi, I have been thin and I have been very heavy. People definitely treat you differantly when you are overweight. This past summer my husband joined a Real Estate agency and I signed on as his assistant. We were encouraged to have business cards made with both of our photos on it because we were considered a team. I'll admit, I wasn't crazy about having a headshot done but I did it anyway. The photographer never acknowledged me. He spoke direrectly to my husband the whole time. When he was positioning us for our photo he was getting really frustrated and kept moving us around. I didn't realize why he was taking so long until he showed us our picture on the computer. Only half of me fit. So, if that wasn't humilitating enough, while he was printing our pictures he showed them to another employee and they both stood there in front of my face and laughed at me. My husband didn't see what happened and when he saw the tears in my eyes I told him I wasn't feeling well and just wanted to leave. I was banded on 12/26/07 and once I have lost enough weight I will go back into that photo shop, ask about having my photo done, and then tell them to f-off because I'm going to bring my business elsewhere. Jenn

I was banded on 12/26/07. I got my first fill about 3 weeks ago. I have 1cc in my 4cc band. The first two weeks after my fill were fine. I had some restriction but could still eat. This week has been horrible. I get stuck after eating one bite of food even when I chew it to death. I actually got stuck eating yogurt tonight and it came back up. Is it normal to feel like this after just one fill? It's so frustrating!!! I'm not having trouble with liquids so i have been trying to supplement the loss of calories with protein shakes. Any suggestions? Thanks, Jenn

hi I'm 37 and had my surgery on 12/26/07. My starting weight was 264 and I currently weigh 243. I have a small band, 4cc, and have 1cc's in there. I got my first fill about 4 weeks ago with another one scheduled for next week. I didn't get a numbing shot with my fill and I barely felt a thing. As you will read on the posts, some people have great experiences with the band and others haven't. Having the surgery was the best decision I ever made and I couldn't be happier with my band. Has it been easy? At times, no! I constantly have to remind myself to slow down and really chew my food or I'll get stuck. My advice to you is to do the research and read as much as you can here. Although there are people who have struggled here I think you'll find the majority of us have been successful. I wish you the best with whatever you decide to do! Jenn

Hi Julie, Congrats on your weightloss, that's truely inspiring. I had surgery on 12/26/07 and hope I have lost about 100pds by my one year anniversary. I wish you the best! Jenn

Hi Kim, You will get a ton of info. at the seminar. Make sure you ask lots of questions. I think each surgeon is differant as to when they do fills. Read the posts here and you'll see what I'm talking about. It might also be differant because you're self pay. I had my first fill 5 1/2 weeks after my surgery. It didn't hurt at all and took about 10 minutes all together. Before my fill I had lost about 14 pds. The first week after my fill I was down another 6. My next fill is in two weeks and was scheduled about 4 weeks after my first fill. My surgeon said that he gives fills when I am getting hungrier and not feeling full for long periods of time. I hope my response was helpful. Getting the band was the best decision I could've have made. I still have to work at losing weight but my band helps keep me from the overeating I have always done. I wish you the best as you move forward. Jenn

Don't be so hard on yourself! I actually gained weight during my liquid pre-op diet because my sodium intake was too high. I barely had any pain post-op and maybe 1 day of gas discomfort. 14 pounds is a great start so pick yourself up and remember why you started this journey in the first place. I couldn't imagine my life without my band. Hang in there! Jenn

I had surgery on 12/26. I had very little pain and fortunately only one day of gas pains. My throat was the most uncomfortable after surgery because of the breathing tube. I had liquid pain meds which I took for the first few days after surgery more to prevent the pain than anything. I can't feel the band at all but once in awhile can feel my port. Good Luck! Jenn

I had my surgery here so I don't know if I'm going to be a big help. If I was in your position I would do a ton of research and then weigh the pro's and con's. This is a decision that only you can make. You might want to check into where you can have fills done locally if you have surgery in Mexico. Do all of your research first and then make your decision. Whatever you decide, I wish you the best! Jenn

Hi Krista, I was banded on 12/26. I actually gained weight on the pre-op liquid diet due to the amount of sodium I was taking in. I lost about 14 pounds in the beginning and then just stalled. When I saw my surgeon he told me not to focus on my weight. The weeks after surgey and before your first fill are not considered weightloss weeks. Your body has to heal. Also keep in mind that if you were on a liquid diet pre-op and your now eating more your weight might go up. I had my first fill last Monday and fortunately I have some restriction so I have been able to lose another 5 pds. Don't get discouraged because we all go through it at some point. I would talk to your nutritionist and tell her what you have shared here. You're doing everything you should be and she needs to support you and encourage you. Hang in there! Jenn

Hi, I was banded on 12/26. I wasn't really hungry until about 1 week post surgery. What really helped me was the protein drinks. I would either have a slimfast or carnation instant breakfast. I discovered that alot of my hunger was in my head. It's really hard to go from overeating to eating very little. I was able to progress to soft foods 2 weeks after surgery and that was great. Hang in there, it does get better. Jenn

My surgeon was Dr. Kastrinakis in Salem MA. The follow-up program is amazing! It includes a 12 week (1x's a week) exercise program at their facility. Part of the time is spent exercising and the other part is spent with the nutritionist. Jenn

I work from home so it's a little differant. It took me about a week to really start to feel like myself. I was fortunate enough not to have alot of pain, it was more exhaustion then anything. I would say it really depends on what you do for work. If you can take a week off then I would. This is such an exciting time!!! Good luck!!! Jenn

I had my band done in Salem MA. by Dr. Kastrinakis. Jenn

I think what you have to remember is that there are an enormous number of people on this site. Out of who knows how many, there are people who have had port infections. I think they're the minority here. I had my surgery on 12/26/07 and haven't had one issue with my port. It's unfortunate that it does happen but I really don't think it's the norm. It's perfectly normal to be scared esp. after reading about the difficulties that some people have experienced. Hang in there and keep going forward. Jenn

I attended my first seminar on Aug. 27, 2007 and had surgery on Dec. 26. It seems like the testing varies from state to state. Here in MA. I had to attend 2 support group meetings, have a psych. evaluation, nutrition eval., meet with the surgeon twice and the cardiologist once. Since I didn't have an co-morbs I didn't have to have a stress test or sleep study done. Again, it varies for everyone. You can always contact the bariatric coordinator in your area to find out the requirements. Good Luck! Jenn

Hi, I'm from the Northshore and was banded the day after Christmas at Salem hospital. I started the process at the end of August and was banded almost 4 months later. My surgery went well and for the most part my recovery was a breeze. I didn't have any pain to speak of and fortunately never had an issue with gas. My biggest issue was the exhaustion I felt for about a week after surgery. I am scheduled for my first fill in a few weeks and am pretty excited about it. So far I have lost about 17 pds. I'm still on mushies and my appetite is beginning to grow. I hope to lose about 110 pds. total but I'm trying not to focus so much on the number right now. I hope that you're all doing well! Jenn